Gooseneck ball installation

cmyoung2 · May 26, 2013

I need to repostition the gooseneck ball on my 99 F250. New bed will probably mean I need to move the ball rearward a little to miss the dump cylinder. How far behind axle center can th ball be? Probably not going to be pulling real heavy loads, doubt I will ever go over 10-12 k trailer load. Normal gooseneck loads are moving empty or lightly loaded trailers on the yard and a few 3 horse trailers or 16' stock trailers.

QRTRHRS · May 26, 2013

I always thought that about six inches in front of center was optimal but not sure so I did a search. Tell you what, I don't have the time to read the results but there is alot of info to glean over. It has been awhile since I have seen it but I have seen this stake body dually with the hitch all the way behind the body.

I think it was a small IH or something so it was a bit stouter than an F250. I suppose the setup was due to a dumping stake bed. By the way, the trailer was a tandem dually dump.

Case485Guy · May 27, 2013

Your installing a dump bend? and want to keep the g/n?

foreman Etexas · May 27, 2013

Case485Guy said:
Your installing a dump bend? and want to keep the g/n?

That's how I read it also, I don't see how could in a dump bed,not being able to bolt/weld to frame. Maybe just moving empty trailers welding ball to steel bed okay but never dealt with a dump bed.

Xfaxman · May 27, 2013

Most hitch manufactures recommend 4" to 6" ahead of the axle, so some of the weight is transferred to the front axle.

Anything behind the axle will make the front end lighter with the trailer hooked on.

kevin37b · May 28, 2013

I just love you dummy's that think we are fully aware of your project . WTF. are you doing ?

QRTRHRS · May 28, 2013

No need for that, just ask for some more info. The original post is brief but I got it. He want's to put a dump bed on an F250 yet still be able to pull a gooseneck. Dump bed hydraulics often interfere with a ball. Myself, I would go with cylinders mounted on either side of the truck frame or a front mounted verticle cylinder.

cmyoung2 · May 30, 2013

QRTRHRS, you are correct.99'F250 SD extended cab, V10 4x4. We replaced the rusted pickup bed with 7' flat dump. Used a center mounted 30" cylinder with a old Northern electric/hyd pump. Best I can figure the old bed, bumper weighed about 350 lbs,the new bed,pump,cylinder is 1000 lbs, so I weigh about 650 lbs more. Total truck weight now is 7400. The gooseneck ball is frame mounted, about 6" behind the rear axle, it was centered before the conversion. I know that is not ideal, but that was where it would fit. Thought about using two sidemounted cylinders, but they just didn't seem t fit and I would had to have a bigger pump tank. I don't pull heavy loads, so I think I will be ok, it just won't ride or pull like a more forward mounted hitch.
Not sure what the dump is rated, but it did dump 1 ton of gravel yesterday, which is about as much as I want on the truck anyway. So far, I'm happy. Pictures soon

cmyoung2 · Jun 2, 2013

As promised, here are some pictures. 99' 250SD, V-10, 4x4. New steel bed, 7', electric/hydraulic dump, frame mounted goseneck hitch. Bed will be painted this week, truck was painted last month, new RanchHand front bumper.

mikehaugen · Jun 2, 2013

that's a nice looking truck, you will probably be ok especially considering that you are still leaps and bounds better than a bumper pull hitch as far as weight position.

Reg · Jun 2, 2013

Always AHEAD of the axle, as far ahead as you can get it, the one on my 1 ton is approx 12 inches ahead.
Directly over is a common mistake, that leads to a teeter-totter effect that you WILL feel.

Diamondpilot · Jun 2, 2013

I would not go aft of the axle, only in front of it.

Sell the GN.

Chris

7879fordman · Jun 3, 2013

Put the gn plate on the rails on the bed its self before the axle like its suppose to be . No really hard to do . Most flat beds have the plate build in the bed its self and not on the frame . With the bed lowered down it will pull fine .

Check out these cannonball beds . I know there hay beds but there dumps also a all around bed .

http://www.cannonballengineering.com/products/balebed.cfm
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